Pentecost 2, Proper 8, 2011 Immanuel Chapel, Matthew 10: 34-42
A painting in our oldest son’s high school textbook has stuck with me for more than twenty years. A flock of sheep is crowding to the edge of a precipice. Two sheep have already fallen onto a ledge several feet below. They have no way up. Others of the flock peer down on them. More sheep are pressing in from behind, intent on grazing. Disaster is in progress. There is no shepherd in sight.
When Jesus looked upon the crowds, ‘they were like sheep without a shepherd.” He called to himself his little church of twelve apostles. Jesus gave them his authority over every affliction. He sent them that, as they were going, they should proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is nothing other than Jesus’ life and his dying on the cross. Therein, he established the rule of grace and mercy. He saved the harassed and helpless from oppression. Jesus’ commission to be in mission is valid in our time as well.
In Jesus’ time a synagogue stood in every town and village. Still, the populace was lost, harassed by Satan, disease and the task of attaining enough bread for today. Every day they and their lives missed the mark of what God intended for them. Some recognized their plight; others did not. Few knew there was a way out.
Within a three mile radius of Immanuel Chapel there are more churches than you can shake a stick at. Yet, consider the crowds within that radius, so many going, going, going they know not where. Think of the cars rushing by on Old Halls Ferry. Some carry their occupants to worship to hear the good news of God’s mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. But many passing by are simply going, to Home Depot, or IHOP or to Shop N’ Save. They are intent on making their way through another day. Some, go to work for their daily bread, some are weary of struggling from one week to another, some see no way out.
There is a way out and we know the way. His name is Jesus. This Jesus called us to himself. The result being, that through His Spirit we have heard and received the good news of salvation. We have been enlivened to new life in baptism. We dine on the most powerful food available in the entire universe, His crucified and resurrected body and blood in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. These blessings are ours, not that we may rest comfortably in the comforting and sometimes contentious company of fellow disciples. Fortified and refreshed through his word and sacrament Christ sends us out. As we go on our way we are the church. There is simply no other way to be the church. For the kingdom of God is near, in our hearts and on our lips. We carry the news of God’s peace within ourselves. When we speak, as opportunity arises, it is not we who are speaking but the Spirit of our heavenly Father speaking through us.
But Jesus wants us to be aware that following him brings with it the risk of bearing a cross just as he did. When the weather report predicts the meeting of cold northern air with warm gulf air, we can expect turbulence and storm along the front. We are often warned to be ready to take cover. When the warmth of the gospel meets the cold reality of sin, spiritual storms may erupt along that front. We may believe that we are wise to take cover and keep the gospel’s warming atmosphere to ourselves. Better to allow the arctic air of spiritual hearts gone cold to have the day, than run the risk of the turbulence that might result in our lives and in theirs. Though Jesus came declaring peace between God and humanity, though we are given that peaceful word, the result may be a loss of peace for ourselves and for those who are led by the Spirit to believe in the good news of God’s presence and power in Christ through our word of invitation.
But the situation in God’s kingdom is ever the opposite of that in the world of our daily life. It is in taking the cross that comes with following him, that we are worthy of him. It’s in losing our lives in his service that we are keepers of life.
For Christ identifies himself us. He promises that there will be those among the hopelessly lost sheep who will receive our word. When we his disciples pronounce peace; that peace will find a home in their hearts and lives. Jesus promises, whoever welcomes us welcomes him and whoever welcomes him receives the blessing of the heavenly Father. Whoever gives one of his disciples a cup of water because they are his disciples; that person will not lose his reward. For in the last day Jesus will say, “Come, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from before the foundation of the world,…for I was thirsty and you gave me drink…whatever you did for the least of these my brethren you did for me.”
As we scatter today to go on our way we may discover as one person did through simply talking with a bagger at her local grocery store. She had been talking with the woman on and off for a year. Upon hearing that the woman no longer worked on Sundays, she invited her to come to her church, to their casual, outdoor, come-as-you-are service. Much to her surprise the woman responded by giving her a hug. When we take the risk of reaching out we may be surprised at how ready many are to receive our most humble efforts. Lest we forget, Jesus promises, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.”
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